U.S. patent number 11,187,352 [Application Number 17/142,307] was granted by the patent office on 2021-11-30 for parallel wire cable.
The grantee listed for this patent is Ultimate Strength Cable, LLC. Invention is credited to Walter L. Lambert.
United States Patent |
11,187,352 |
Lambert |
November 30, 2021 |
Parallel wire cable
Abstract
A parallel wire cable is produced from a plurality of wires
arranged in a bundle for use as a structural cable. Each wire in
the plurality of wires is parallel to every other wire in the
bundle, and each wire in the plurality of wires is tensioned to a
tension value.
Inventors: |
Lambert; Walter L. (Muskogee,
OK) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ultimate Strength Cable, LLC |
Tulsa |
OK |
US |
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Family
ID: |
1000005966120 |
Appl.
No.: |
17/142,307 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2021 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20210164589 A1 |
Jun 3, 2021 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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16857220 |
Apr 24, 2020 |
10955069 |
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16361455 |
Sep 1, 2020 |
10758041 |
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15911074 |
May 7, 2019 |
10278493 |
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13084693 |
Apr 12, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D07B
5/002 (20130101); F16L 3/06 (20130101); E01D
19/16 (20130101); Y10T 29/49616 (20150115); Y10T
428/12347 (20150115); D07B 2501/203 (20130101); Y10T
29/49828 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E01D
19/16 (20060101); D07B 5/00 (20060101); F16L
3/06 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2835139 |
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Jan 2013 |
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CA |
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1938931 |
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Feb 1971 |
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DE |
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2732156 |
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Aug 2016 |
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EP |
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Other References
Google Translation DE 103 090 825 A1, 6 pages, translated Jul. 5,
2018. cited by applicant .
Irvine, H. Max, "Cable Structures," 1981, MIT Press, Cambridge
Massachusetts. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Averick; Lawrence
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Scott P. Zimmerman, PLLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/857,220 filed Apr. 24, 2020 and since issued as U.S. Pat.
No.10,955,069, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
16/361,455 filed Mar. 22, 2019 and since issued as U.S. Pat. No.
10,758,041, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
15/911,074 filed Mar. 3, 2018 and since issued as U.S. Pat. No.
10,278,493, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
13/084,693 filed Apr. 12, 2011 and since abandoned, with all patent
applications incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
This patent application also relates to European Patent No.
2580407, which also claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No.
13/084,693 filed Apr. 12, 2011.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method, comprising: fixing an end of an unwound wire of a
parallel wire structural cable; tensioning the unwound wire to a
tension value by pulling an opposite end of the unwound wire;
maintaining the tension value in the unwound wire by securing the
opposite end of the unwound wire; repeating the fixing, the
tensioning, the maintaining for each other unwound wire of the
parallel wire structural cable; seizing the parallel wire
structural cable; and cutting the parallel wire structural cable to
a length.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising cutting the unwound
wire to a length.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding an attachment
to a cable end of the parallel wire structural cable.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a corrosion
inhibitor to the unwound wire.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a corrosion
inhibitor to the parallel wire structural cable.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a polymer
coating to the parallel wire structural cable.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sequentially repeating
the pulling and the securing of each other unwound wire.
Description
BACKGROUND
Exemplary embodiments generally relate to static structures, to
bridges, and to wireworking and, more particularly, to anchorage,
to towers, to anchors, to cables, and to joining wire.
Parallel wire cables have long been desired as structural
components. Parallel wire cables, for example, have been proposed
for suspension bridges. Parallel wire cables are capable of
superior strength and stiffness when compared to conventional
helically-wound strands and cable. Parallel wire cables, though,
have proven elusive. Conventional designs for parallel wire cables
are far too costly to manufacture. Moreover, conventional
manufacturing processes for parallel wire cables create troublesome
tendencies to twist and coil, making handling and transportation
difficult and even unsafe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The features, aspects, and advantages of the exemplary embodiments
are better understood when the following Detailed Description is
read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an operating environment,
according to exemplary embodiments;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are more detailed schematics illustrating a
structural cable, according to exemplary embodiments;
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating tensioning of the structural
cable, according to exemplary embodiments;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematics illustrating means for securing the
plurality of wires, according to exemplary embodiments; and
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a
parallel wire cable, according to exemplary embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The
exemplary embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different
forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set
forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the
exemplary embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments, as well as
specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both
structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is
intended that such equivalents include both currently known
equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e.,
any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless
of structure).
Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary
skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and
the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating the
exemplary embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art further
understand that the exemplary cables described herein are for
illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to
any particular manufacturing process and/or manufacturer.
As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly
stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms
"includes," "comprises," "including," and/or "comprising," when
used in this specification, specify the presence of stated
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components,
but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is
referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element,
it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or
intervening elements may be present. As used herein, the term
"and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the
associated listed items.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second,
etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these
elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only
used to distinguish one element from another.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an operating environment,
according to exemplary embodiments. FIG. 1 illustrates a suspension
bridge 10 having a deck 12 supported by one or more pillars 14 (or
"towers") and by a structural cable 16. The structural cable 16 is
anchored at opposite ends 18 and 20 by structural anchors 22.
Tension in the structural cable 16 helps support the weight of the
deck 12. The design and structural behavior of the suspension
bridge 10 is well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, so
this disclosure will not provide a further explanation of the
suspension bridge 10.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are more detailed schematics illustrating the
structural cable 16, according to exemplary embodiments. FIG. 2
illustrates a longitudinal portion 30 of the structural cable 16.
The structural cable 16 comprises a plurality 32 of individual
wires. The plurality 32 of wires is illustrated as a bundle 36
having a circular shape 38. The plurality 32 of wires, however, may
be bundled in any cross-sectional shape desired (such as hexagonal,
triangular, or square). Each individual wire 40 in the plurality 32
of wires may be constructed of any metallic and/or non-metallic
material. An individual wire 40, for example, may be 5 or 7
millimeter diameter steel wire (or any other diameter or gauge wire
suitable for structural cable). Any of the individual wires 40,
however, may be constructed from carbon fiber material, composite
material, or even electrical conductors. Each individual wire 40 is
illustrated as having a circular cross-sectional shape, but any of
the wires 40 may have other cross-sectional shapes (such as
hexagonal, triangular, polygonal, or even a variable
cross-sectional shape).
As FIG. 3 also illustrates, the individual wires 40 are parallel.
Each wire 40 in the plurality 32 of wires is parallel to every
other wire 40 in the structural cable 16. The individual wires 40
are parallel along their entire length L (illustrated as reference
numeral 50) from one end 18 of the structural cable 16 to the
opposite end 20 of the structural cable 16. Each wire 40 in the
plurality 32 of individual wires may also be equal in length 50 to
every other wire 40 in the structural cable 16. Each wire 40 in the
structural cable 16, in other words, may be parallel to, and equal
in length 50 to, every other wire 40. Because each wire 40 is
parallel to every other wire 40, no winding operation is required.
The structural cable 16, in other words, need not be spirally or
helically wound.
FIG. 4 is another detailed schematic illustrating the structural
cable 16, according to exemplary embodiments. Here, though, only a
few wires 40 in the structural cable 16 are shown to simplify the
illustration. Exemplary embodiments apply a tension value T
(illustrated as reference numeral 60) to each wire 40 in the
structural cable 16. That is, each wire 40 in the plurality 32 of
individual wires may have an equal, or nearly equal, tension to
every other wire 40 in the structural cable 16. As FIG. 4
illustrates, a tension value 60 is applied to an individual wire
62. An end 64 of the individual wire 62 is mechanically locked,
held, or secured in a first fixture 66. The first fixture 66 is
generically shown, as any apparatus or method may be used to
frictionally prevent the end 64 of the individual wire 62 from
slipping as tension is applied. An opposite end 68 of the
individual wire 62 is then drawn or pulled to the desired tension
value 60. The tension value 60 may be measured with a dynamometer,
but any apparatus or method of measuring tension may be used. When
the desired tension value 60 is attained, the opposite end 68 of
the individual wire 62 is then mechanically locked, held, or
secured in a second fixture 70. Again, the second fixture 70 is
generically shown, as any apparatus or method may be used to
maintain the tension value 60 applied to the individual wire
62.
Exemplary embodiments pretension every wire 40 in the structural
cable 16. Once the tension value 60 is applied to the individual
wire 62, then a second wire 80 in the structural cable 16 is
selected. The second wire 80 may be adjacent to the first-selected
individual wire 62, or the second wire 80 may be circumferentially
or radially distant. Regardless of how or where the second wire 80
is chosen, the same tension value 60 is applied to the second wire
80. An end 82 of the second wire 80 is mechanically locked, held,
or secured in the first fixture 66, and an opposite end 84 is
pulled to the desired tension value 60. Once the desired tension
value 60 is attained, the opposite end 84 of the second wire 80 is
then mechanically locked, held, or secured in the second fixture
70.
Exemplary embodiments repeat this process or procedure for each
wire 40 in the structural cable 16. The tension value 60 is
individually applied or pulled to each wire 40 in the structural
cable 16. Each wire 40 in the plurality 32 of individual wires may
thus have the equal tension value 60 to every other wire 40 in the
structural cable 16. In most cases, of course, the tension value 60
will be a nominal value with a permissible variation. Exemplary
embodiments thus individually pull each wire 40 in the structural
cable 16 to the nominal value within the permissible variation
(such as .+-.1%).
Tension is applied to each wire, not strands of wires. Methods are
known that tension strands of plural wires. A strand, in the art of
structural cable, is defined as a group of multiple wires.
Conventional methods are known that apply tension to a strand of
multiple wires. Exemplary embodiments, in contradistinction, apply
the tension value 60 to each individual wire 40 in the structural
cable 16. Each wire 40 in the plurality 32 of individual wires has
the equal tension value 60 as every other wire 40 in the structural
cable 16.
Individual pretensioning of each wire 40 will provide lighter,
cheaper, and stronger cable designs. An individually-tensioned
structural cable may be made that weighs significantly less than
conventional designs, but the strength of the structural cable is
still greater than conventional designs. Alternatively, exemplary
embodiments may be used to construct a structural cable that is
similar in size to conventional designs, but is substantially
stronger to support greater loads and/or spans. Regardless,
exemplary embodiments offer greater design alternatives that
require less material cost.
The tension value 60 may be any value that suits performance
requirements. A low tension value 60, for example, may be applied
to each wire 40, but the plurality 32 of wires may be difficult to
keep straight and to maintain the desired length (illustrated as
reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3). Moreover, a low tension value 60
may make it difficult to retain the desired geometry of the bundle
(illustrated as reference numeral 36 in FIG. 2). In practice, then,
a minimum of the tension value 60 may be the nominal load that
overcomes any memory or metallurgical cast of the wire coils. For
example, if 9 gauge, 145 ksi yield wire (0.148 inch diameter) is
used, the nominal load is approximately 70 pounds per wire load
(depending on the control temperature). Other diameters of wires
will have varying yield strengths, and the corresponding nominal
loads are easily calculated and tested by those of ordinary skill
in the art. In some cases the weight of the wire 40 itself may meet
or exceed the nominal load. For example, if the wire 40 is long
enough, its actual gravity load or the weight of the wire 40 may
meet or exceed the calculated nominal tensioning load.
No tension adjustments are required. Exemplary embodiments
repeatedly apply the tension value 60 to each wire 40 in the
structural cable 16. Once the tension value 60 is applied to a wire
40, though, the tension value 60 need not be adjusted. Each wire 40
in the plurality 32 of individual wires may be tensioned without
rechecking and adjusting a previously-applied tension in another
wire. The manufacturing of the structural cable 16 may thus rapidly
and sequentially apply the tension value 60 to each wire 40 without
revisiting previous measurements.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematics illustrating means for securing the
plurality 32 of wires, according to exemplary embodiments. Once
each wire 40 in the structural cable 16 is tensioned to the tension
value 60, the tension value 60 should be maintained for subsequent
processing. Exemplary embodiments may thus seize the structural
cable 16 to maintain the tension value 60 in each wire 40. As FIG.
5 illustrates, a seizing force S.sub.f (illustrated as reference
numeral 100) is applied along an outer circumference of the
structural cable 16. For simplicity, FIG. 5 only illustrates a
segment or portion of the structural cable, but the seizing force
100 may be applied at multiple locations along the structural cable
16. A fixture or press may apply the seizing force 100 to maintain
the tension value 60 in each wire 40. FIG. 6, for example,
illustrates bands or seizings 102 spaced along the structural cable
16. The bands or seizings 102 are constructed and sized to
circumferentially apply the seizing force 100 at multiple locations
along the structural cable 16. Regardless of how the seizing force
100 is applied, the seizing force 100 is applied inwardly of the
first fixture 66 and inwardly of the second fixture 70. The seizing
force 100 maintains the tension value 60 in each wire 40. The
structural cable 16 may then be cut to a desired overall length
(illustrated as reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3). Attachments and/or
sockets may then be added to each end (e.g., illustrated as
reference numerals 18 and 20 in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the structural
cable 16.
Exemplary embodiments may include an oxidation inhibitor. The
plurality 32 of wires may have a sacrificial coating or polymer
coating that helps prevent the structural cable 16 from corroding.
One or more of the individual wires 40 may additionally or
alternatively include the oxidation inhibitor.
Exemplary embodiments may also include strands of the wires.
Several individual wires 40 may be grouped or bundled into a
strand, as is known. Multiple strands may then be bundled to
produce the structural cable 16. Exemplary embodiments may thus be
applied to each strand, such that each wire 40 in a strand is
individually tensioned to the equal tension value 60.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a
parallel wire cable, according to exemplary embodiments. A wire is
selected of a parallel wire structural cable (Block 200). The wire
is frictionally held at one end (Block 202). An opposite end of the
wire is pulled to the tension value 60 (Block 204). The opposite
end is then frictionally held to maintain the tension value 60
(Block 206). If wires remain to tension (Block 208), then another
wire is selected (Block 200) and the tension value 60 is applied,
until a last wire is tensioned (Block 208). The parallel wire
structural cable is secured or seized to maintain tension in the
wires (Block 210). The parallel wire structural cable is cut to
length (Block 212). An end attachment or socket is added (Block
214). Corrosion protection may be added (Block 216).
While the exemplary embodiments have been described with respect to
various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and
unskilled in the art will recognize the exemplary embodiments are
not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative
embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the exemplary embodiments.
* * * * *